One of the goals of the US-Israeli attacks against Iran is to create discord between the Islamic republic and the Arab countries of the region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday.
Speaking at a round table in Moscow, Lavrov noted that until recently there had been a positive reconciliation process in relations between Iran and its Arab neighbors.
"I have no doubt, and I want to return to this once again, that one of the goals was to create a split between the countries of the region, between the countries of the Persian Gulf — Iran and its Arab neighbors, which have been experiencing a positive normalization process in recent years," he said.
The Middle East is currently facing a major military escalation following coordinated US-Israeli strikes on Iran that killed several senior officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In response, Tehran launched drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as US assets in eight Arab countries - Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, and Iraq - since early Saturday. Some of the attacks caused casualties and damage to civilian property, actions that drew condemnation.
According to him, the West in the Middle East operates on the principle of "divide, pit against each other and rule."
"The West, as this situation with aggression against Iran now proved, acts on the principle of 'either, or' - 'either with us or against us.' And the main thing, of course, in all this is 'divide and conquer.' In this case, we can probably say: 'Divide, pit against each other, and rule,'" he said.
The foreign minister added that he said this "with deep regret" because all those suffering are Russia's strategic partners.
Citing recent statements by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who supported the US-Israeli military operation, Lavrov voiced concern about the alliance's possible involvement.
"The meaning of his statements is: 'dear members of the international community, know that NATO's interests are where we tell you to be,'" he argued.
Lavrov said Russia advocates for an immediate end to the aggression and, together with its partners, is ready to develop a draft resolution on the cessation of hostilities in the Middle East.
He criticized Arab states for not condemning the US-Israeli strike on a school in Iran that killed 170 schoolgirls.
"Many of the Arab monarchies have publicly said there is no need to pursue a military solution and that they will not allow the use of airspace. But when it all started, despite your repeated appeals to the United States and Israel, did you condemn what the United States and Israel began to do? Condemned the death of 170 girls at school?" he questioned.
"We cannot accept the logic that Iran's actions are unacceptable, and everything the US and Israel are doing is non-negotiable," he added.
Lavrov also voiced concern over alleged US-Israeli attempts to draw Kurds into the conflict.
"And then watch it all live - they say 'the rogue state' has no right to exist, therefore the Kurdish factor has to be dredged up," he said.
According to him, Russia raised the killing of Khamenei with the US and Israel. The response, he said, was that Iran had allegedly planned assassination attempts on US President Donald Trump.
